Pole-mounted utility building

ABSTRACT

A PROTABLE BUILDING IS SUSPENDED BETWEEN A PAIR OF UPSTANDING UTILITY POLES ANCHORED IN THE GROUND, THE BUILDING BEING SUPPORTED BY A SKID SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PROVIDE FOR UNIFORM LOAD DISTRIBUTION AND TO AVOID LOCALIZED STRESSES OR STRAINS AT THE POINTS OF ATTACHMENT OF THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR THE BUILDING TO THE POLES.

Feb. 16, 1971 WALZ, R m1 3,562,980

POLE-MOUNTED UTILITY BUILDING Original Filed May 24, 1967 INVENTOR FRANK C. WALZ JERRY B DAVIS 11R.

ATTORNE" United States Patent 3,562,980 POLE-MOUNTED UTILITY BUILDING Frank Christian Walz, Jr., Golden, and Jerry B. Davis, Lakewood, C0lo., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Levingston-Armadillo, Inc., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 641,040, May 24, 1967. This application June 30, 1969, Ser. No. 842,787 Int. Cl. E04h 1/12"; F16m 13/02 US. Cl. 52-143 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable building is suspended between a pair of upstanding utility poles anchored in the ground, the building being supported by a skid support assembly, in such a way as to provide for uniform load distribution and to avoid localized stresses or strains at the points of attachment of the supporting structure for the building to the poles.

This is a continuation of our copending application Ser. No. 641,040, filed May 24, 1967, and now abandoned.

This invention is directed to the combination of a prefabricated portable building mounted on spaced parallel skids which in turn are fastened to and extend between a pair of upstanding poles whereby to support the building in spaced relation above the ground. Additional braces may run from the roof of the building for attachment to the poles and provide increased stability and strength in the installation.

This invention relates to new and useful forms of building installations; and more particularly relates to a novel and improved manner and means for installing and supporting a prefabricated portable building structure between upstanding posts or poles with the building sus pended in spaced relation above the ground.

It has been customary practice to install prefabricated portable building structures on foundations or piers. This requires setting or anchoring of piers at spaced intervals in the ground and thereafter securing the base or floor of the building structure to the piers. A typical installation of this type is set forth and described in detail in copending application for patent Ser. No. 529,028, filed Feb. 21, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,415,025 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The manner and form of installation described in the copending application is considered to represent a substantial advance for the reason that building structures including the base support members or skids may be completely prefabricated and preassembled at the factory in order to minimize the time and labor of installation at the site as well as to avoid costly mistakes in installation by untrained personnel. However it has been found that much of the time and labor required in conventional building installations can be further avoided by utilizing upstanding poles or posts as the primary support members in place of foundations or piers. The poles can be rapidly anchored or set in the ground and will provide a rigid means of support virtically along opposite sides or ends of the building and further enable suspension of the building in desired spaced relation off the ground.

In the past, poles have been employed individually or in combination in supporting various types of instrumentation or electrical equipment; however to the best of our knowledge and belief no satisfactory method has previously been devised to utilize the poles as a rapid and convenient means of installation of a building structure large enough to accommodate personnel as well as equipment or instrumentation and specifically in such a way that the building can be mounted rigidly between the poles in a minimum number of steps and with maximum savings in Patented Feb. 16, 1971 time and labor. In this connection the means for attachment of the building to the poles is most desirably conformable for use in supporting buildings of different sizes and weights with uniform distribution of the load along and between the poles whereby to avoid localized stresses or strains at the points of attachment.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates in particular the supporting and suspension of prefabricted portable building structures between a pair of upstanding poles anchored in the ground and where the buildings are large enough to house electronic equipment as well as to permit convenient entry of personnel into the building for the purpose of maintenance and repair.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to make provision for a pole-mounted building structure which facilitates the rapid and economical installation of portable buildings rigidly between a pair of upstanding poles anchored in the ground and in such a way as to obviate installation of piers or like foundation structures; further wherein the building structure may be suspended between the poles in spaced relation above the ground with uniform load distribution between and along the sup porting pole members.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a pole-mounted building structure which is more durable, structurally stable and relatively free of maintenance in comparison to conventional building structures and installations.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide in a prefabricated portable building structure for improved support members which may be assembled with the building at the intended site of use and which are readily conformable for mounting buildings of different sizes and weights between a pair of poles anchored in the ground and where the skid support members aiford a quick and convenient means of installation of the building in suspended relation between the poles in a minimum number of steps.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from the foregoing detailed description of a preferred form of building installation when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred form of building installation in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of a preferred form of building installation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating interconnection between the skid support assembly and one of the poles; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the manner of interconnection between one end of the skid supporting assembly and pole.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example a utility building 10 mounted on a skid support assembly 12 between a pair of upstanding poles 14. The building 10 as shown is representative of various building structures which can be mounted in a manner specifically to be described. In particular the structure typifies a prefabricated portable building designed for use in housing machines or electronic equipment, such as for example, buildings of the type utilized as VHF stations, signal equipment or hotbox protection housings and other related uses, and where the building is sufiiciently large to house personnel or to permit personnel to enter the building in order to make adjustments or repairs. For the purpose of illustration and not limitation the building may be in the range of four to six feet in width, six to ten feet in length and ten to twelve feet high and weigh on the order of five hundred to one thousand pounds. Of course the weight may be substantially increased by equipment and personnel in the building. The building further is shown as being of generally rectangular configuration having front and back side walls and 16 with a front access door 18, opposite end walls 19, a relatively thick floor or base 20 and a roof 22. As described in more detail in the hereinbefore referred to copending application for patent, the floor and Walls of the building may take the form of relatively thick but lightweight insulated panels of one-piece construction being rigidly connected together and surfaced with an external fiberglass layer to provide a seamless, non-porous, hermetically sealed enclosure. The building is completely fabricated, assembled and mounted on skids 24 at the factory prior to shipment.

In accordance with the present invention the skid support assembly comprises a pair of skids 24 in the form of channel beams extending in spaced parallel relation to one another lengthwise along the undersurface of the floor 20 and, as shown and described in said copending application for patent, are fastened or permanently affixed to the fioor by means of suitable connecting bolts running between the skids and the floor panel. Each skid 24 has an end portion 25 protecting beyond the end wall of the building to rest on a transversely extending skid support beam 26. The end portions 25 at each end of the building are secured adjacent to opposite ends of the skid support beams by diagonal placement of generally U-shaped bolt members 28. As shown the closed end of each bolt 28 is positioned over the top of the skid 24 with the free ends of the bolt extending downwardly past opposite sides of the skid 24 and of the beams 26 with terminal threaded ends 29 being inserted through openings in a support plate 30 and being rigidly fastened together by suitable washers and lock nuts 32. In this form, the skid suport assembly constitutes a generally rectangular or box-shaped frame serving as a base support for the entire building structure, and of course the size and strength of the beams comprising the base support may be suitably varied according to the size and weight of the building to be supported.

In the field, the poles 14 are anchored in the ground in a conventional manner so as to be in spaced-apart upstanding relation, and the spacing therebetween corresponding to the distance between end portions 25 of the skids 24. Preferably, the poles are generally cylindrical and are sized according to loading requirements while being of a height sufficient to extend upwardly beyond the roof of the building when the latter is disposed in suspended relation between the poles. To enable rapid and convenient installation of the building structure between the poles, a gusset :plate is fastened to the inner facing surface of each pole, the plates being horizontally aligned in opposed facing relation to one another. Each gusset plate 35 is most desirably of elongated rectangular configuration having at its lower end a forwardly projecting flange or lip 38 for rigid connection to a beam 26. Each of the plates is suitably fastened to a pole by upper and lower lag bolts 39 extending horizontally through the greater thickness of the pole and being fastened by suitable lock nuts 40. As best seen from FIG. 4, each gusset plate 35 is relatively flat, but if desired may be of somewhat arcuate configuration so as to conform to the curved external surface of the pole and permit interconnection in flush relation against the pole. In turn, the lower flange portions 38 are designed to carry a skid support beam 26 intermediately between the end portions 25 of the skids 24, and to this end, each flange is provided with spaced bolt openings to be aligned with correspondingly spaced openings in the upper surface of the beam 26 for insertion of bolts 42 through the aligned openings. Suitable Washers 43 and lock nuts 44 are positioned on the lower threaded ends of the bolts to rigidly bear against the undersurface of the top flange portion of the beam and make a rigid connection between the flange 38 and the support beam 26.

In order to lend increased stability to the entire installation, upper brace assemblies 48 may be secured to opposite ends of the roof 22 of the building structure for attachment to the poles. Each brace assembly has an angle iron 50 bolted to the roof intermediately between opposite sides of the building with an upright or vertical side 51 of the angle being disposed in the plane of an end wall and in opposed facing relation to one of the poles. An elongated bolt 54 is inserted through a central opening 55 in the pole and through an aligned central opening in the vertical side 51 of the angle. Lock nuts 57 and 58 are threaded onto the end of the bolt and tightened against opposite surfaces of the angle as shown.

The entire building installation is such that the building can be preassembled With the skids 24 at the factory. The poles are anchored and set in predetermined spaced relation, the gusset plates 35 are fastened in place and the support beams 26 bolted to the plates 35. All that is required to complete the assembly is to position the building structure in place with the skids 24 secured to the beams 26 as described symmetrically about the points of connection to the poles. Where required, the roof braces are assembled as described. This manner of assembly assures most accurate, consistent and reliable installation by minimizing tedious and time-consuming measurements and assembly operations at the site.

Again it will be apparent that buildings of varying sizes and shapes may be installed in this manner and suspended relation off the ground. Moreover, it will be observed that the pole-mounted structure as described is of particular advantage and utility for installation of buildings on uneven terrain or slopes and in general represents a rugged, foolproof, relatively maintenancefree means of installation.

Of course the specific construction of the skid support assemblies or frames may be varied as well as the specific manner and means of interconnection between the frames and poles. While additional sets of poles may be employed it has been found that a pair of poles located centrally of and along the end walls of the buildings will provide more than adequate support in sustaining heavy loads. Depending upon the spacing of the building above the ground, removable or folding steps may be secured or otherwise placed in position in front of the doorway.

It is therefore to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts comprising the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pole-mounted building installation comprising a pair of upstanding poles anchored in the ground, a prefabricated portable building structure for housing personnel and equipment, the building structure including a roof and a base support frame for the building structure extending horizontally between the poles, said base support frame projecting beyond opposite ends of the building structure and having transverse support members at opposite ends thereof ,said end support member rigidly fastened to each of said poles in spaced relation above the ground, and stabilizing members extending from opposite ends of the roof of the building structure and being connected to each of said poles.

2. A pole-mounted building installation according to claim 1, further including gusset plates fastened to the inner surfaces of the poles in aligned facing relation to one another, each of said gusset plates including means for connecting the midportion of each end support member of a base support frame to each of said gusset plates.

3. A pole-mounted building installation according to claim 2, each gusset plate having connecting means defined by a forwardly projecting flange, said end support member being supported by and connected to said flange.

4. A pole-mounted building installation according to claim 1, said stabilizing members defined by brace members attached to opposite ends of the roof of said building, and elongated connecting means fastening each of said brace members to an adjacent pole.

5. A pole-mounted building installation according to claim 1, said base support frame defined by skid members extending lengthwise in spaced parallel relation to one another beneath the base of said building in inwardly spaced but adjacent relation to opposite sides of said building, and said end support members defined by skid support beams extending transversely of Opposite ends of said skid members for rigid connection to each of said poles intermediately between the end portions of said skid members.

6. A pole-mounted prefabricated building installation comprising in combination a prefabricated portable personnel and equipment building and skid support assembly of generally rectangular configuration having sides, ends, roof and floor portions rigidly connected together, said skid support assembly including a pair of skid members extending in spaced relation to one another and rigidly connected to the undersurface of the floor with opposite ends of said skid members projecting beyond the end walls of said building and having a skid support beam extending transversely beneath end portions of said skids outwardly of each end of the building including means fastening the end portions of said skids to said support beams; and a pair of generally cylindrical upstanding poles anchored in the ground in Spaced-apart relation to one another with the spacing between pole members corresponding to the distance between said skid support beams at opposite ends of said skids, gusset plates attached to each of said poles in horizontally aligned opposing facing relation to one another, each gusset plate including a forwardly projecting flange for connection of each of said skid support beams intermediately between common end portions of said skids, means rigidly interconnecting said skid support beams and said gusset plates with the weight of said building being uniformly distributed upon said skids and being uniformly spaced between said poles, and a pair of brace members connected to opposite ends of the roof of said building, and connecting bolts interconnecting said brace members and the upper ends of said poles.

7. A pole-mounted building structure according to claim 6, said means rigidly interconnecting said skid support beams defined by gusset plates fastened to said poles in inverted relation to the gusset plates for said base support skid assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 20,980 1Nl939 McMillen 52261 1,763,069 6/1930 Schuler 248--221 3,023,463 3/1962 BigeloW 52-143X 3,123,186 3/1964 Adkinson et a1 52143X 3,292,314 12/1966 Heise 52-79 3,415,025 12/1968 Walz et al. 52222 PRICE C. FAW, JR., Primary Examiner 

